POLITICS

Politics: Howards Government



Table of Contents

Thesis Statement1

Introduction1

Discussion1

Political Culture3

Economic Rationalism4

Social Conservatism7

Conclusion8

References9

Annotated Bibliography11

Politics: Howards Government

Thesis Statement

The changes brought by he Howard's government in social, political, and economical landscape are substantially different from previous regimes and tend to move away from welfare state to free market system.

Introduction

This paper discusses the changes that have been brought by the 11 year era of 25th Prime minister of Australia, Mr John Winston Howard. This era saw economic expansion that is characterized as longest in the history of Australia. Howard's policies, practices, philosophies, and decisions have been widely debated specially over the issue of abolishing welfare system, treatment of asylum seeker after the 9-11, and such. This paper discusses the changes in the era of Howard and its consequences.



Discussion

The 25th Prime minister of Australia, Mr John Winston Howard, was born on July 26th; 1939.he is the longest serving prime minister of Australia after Sir Robert Menzies. His era of Prime Ministership started March 11th, 1996 and ended in December the 3rd 2007. After 1980, it was the first Federal victory of coalition of the National Parties and liberals. The first terms was 1996 to 1998, the second term of the Howard was 1998-2001. The third term started in 2001 and ended in 2004. While the last term of Howard as Prime minister started 2004 and ended in 2007.

All the four term are marked by severe conflicts in views among critics regarding the policies, agenda and forms of governmental style during Howards 11 year era. The first term of Howard is characterised by partial privatizations of Telstra, tight budgeting, industrial relation changes, Wik debate and persistent ministerial problems. The second term of his government is marked by deal with Australian Democrats which enabled the government to bring tax reform legislation and introduction of tax, Goods and Services Tax. The government faced some bleak electoral situation in the final year of second term, however due to the changes in policy in the year 2011; the government was able to recover some ground. The election of 2001 were flooded with the news of war against terrorism by the US and arrivals of the boatloads of asylum seekers. The success in election with an even higher majority was awarded to him again. The government still did not have enough seats in senate to pass the planned legislations. In the fourth term the Howard's government saw operating with a rare majority in the Upper House of Parliament, which enabled the long awaited passage of industrial relation and economic agenda of Howard. The Trade Union movement and Labour Party campaigned against the industrial relations reform by Howard's government and also opposed the involvement of Australia in the war of Iraq.

The era of Howard has brought changes in the political, economic and social landscape of Australia. His philosophy of running the government is visible in the events and attempts of his regime. Several views can be found, however, it's the success and failures that bring the improvement in democratic ...